The couple’s first child tragically died three years ago after a premature birth. A steady stream of friends and well-wishers have been visiting the hospital all day, with flowers and gifts for the happy family.
PUTTING THE NEWSPAPER down on the hospital bed, Lottie looked across at Rafael, who was cradling their baby in his arms, rocking slightly from side to side as he gazed into his son’s sleeping face. They looked so right together, a perfect fit, with that small bundle of life snuggled against the powerfully muscled arms of his father. The present and the future. Lottie could already see the trouble they were going to cause her. And she couldn’t wait.
‘I meant to say, my mother rang this morning to congratulate us.’
‘Greta? That was nice of her.’
‘Yes, I was quite surprised, actually. I’d never really thought of her as granny material, but she seemed genuinely excited. She’s even talking about paying us a visit.’
‘I’ll have to practise my best behaviour.’ Rafael gave her a schoolboy grin over the top of the baby’s head, leaving Lottie in no doubt that her mother would be totally charmed by him.
‘And Alex, of course—she’s been on the phone, demanding photos of Valentine and all the gruesome birth details. I think I’ve managed to put her off the idea of ever having a baby.’
‘Some friend you are.’ Rafael laughed. ‘But, seriously, you were magnificent, Lottie. I can’t tell you how proud I am of you.’
‘That’s because I had you there with me. And I would do it a thousand times over—because look what we got.’ She tipped her head on one side.
‘I can’t stop looking.’ Rafael returned his gaze to his son and there was a tender pause. ‘I think he takes after you, you know—those beautiful wide eyes. And look at his tiny nose, and his lips, and his little ears.’
‘So you approve, then?’
As he glanced up again Lottie saw that his eyes were shining with emotion, and when she saw his slight shake of the head and deep swallow she knew he was struggling to find the words.
‘I can still hardly believe it. That he is really ours, Lottie, yours and mine.’
‘Well, you’d better believe it. Especially when he is screaming his head off at three in the morning. And Valentine looks more like you, just for the record. That certainly isn’t my hair!’
Rafael protectively smoothed his hand over his son’s shock of dark hair, then watched as it sprang back to upright. ‘Listen to your mamma, being rude about your hair. You and I both know you are perfect in every way.’
‘He really is...’ Lottie sighed with exhausted pleasure and laid her head back on the pillow. ‘We did good, didn’t we?’
‘We did more than good.’
Sitting on the edge of the bed with the baby in his arms, he leant forward to kiss Lottie tenderly on the lips.
‘We did assolutamente magnifico. And this is just the start, Lottie—the start of a wonderful life together: you, me and our son. A proper family at last. Now and for ever.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from SHEIKH’S DESERT DUTY by Maisey Yates.
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CHAPTER ONE
SHEIKH ZAYN AL-AHMAR had many regrets in his life. The kind of regrets that reached into the darkness in the middle of the night, and tried to strangle him while he slept. The kind of regrets that followed him all through the day, and informed his every action; constant reminders of why he’d had to leave the old version of himself behind, and become something entirely different.